David Cameron is in the process of recruiting the man behind Boris Johnson's ballot box successes to boost his re-election prospects.

Sky sources said the move to hire right-wing strategist Lynton Crosby is "not final", but plans are "well advanced".

The Australian is reportedly set to start work within weeks as the Conservative leader seeks to beef-up his operation ahead of the next general election in 2015.

The possible return of the figure closely associated with the Tories' failed crime and immigration-centred 2005 campaign under Michael Howard has divided opinion in the party.

Mr Crosby was linked with Michael Howard's tough 2005 campaign

Former deputy party chairman Lord Ashcroft warned that the man known as the "Wizard of Oz" for his multiple successes in Australian elections was a "recipe for ... conflict and confusion".

But Mr Johnson, whose two successful London mayoral campaigns were run by Mr Crosby, has played down his right-wing reputation and urged the Prime Minister to "break the piggy bank" to get him on board.

Mr Crosby helped Mr Johnson return to power

The appointment comes as the Tories suffered a heavy reverse in the Corby by-election - losing a mid-term seat to Labour for the first time since 1997 on a swing of nearly 13%.

Elections for police commissioners were also hit by record-low turnouts on Thursday in a humiliating blow to a flagship law and order policy championed by Mr Cameron.

Many Conservatives have expressed concerns about a perceived lack of grip and focus in Number 10.

Labour's Andy Sawford won Louise Mensch's former seat in Corby

Tim Montgomerie, editor of influential website ConservativeHome, said Mr Crosby had "a good record of success and is perhaps the Alpha Male that Team Cameron has been missing since Andy Coulson exited".

"Coming on top of the decision to target 20 Lib Dem MPs, it is a sign that Team Cameron is re-gearing for the kind of ambitious campaign that will be necessary to win a majority at the next election," he wrote.

The son of a cereal farmer, Mr Crosby worked for a petrol company and an oil exploration firm before joining the staff of a Liberal Party politician, later becoming the party’s director of Queensland.

In 2002 he left the party to set up campaign strategist company Crosby/Textor with business partner Mark Textor.

He masterminded four consecutive general election victories for John Howard, the "dull dog" of Australian politics, between 1996 and 2004.

Mr Crosby was crucial in John Howard's election victories

The polling guru, who has a skill for tailoring political messages to create eye-catching headlines, was first hired by the Tories to help them win Michael Howard's 2005 crime and immigration-centred campaign.

He was seen as the party's answer to Alistair Campbell and hailed in Westminster a "master of the dark political arts" and "the Australian Karl Rove", a reference to George Bush's legendary strategist.

The hard-line Tory stance on immigration - which targeted gypsies as well as immigrants - led to accusations of racism.

Mr Crosby, who refers to violent crime and immigration as "dog whistle" issues that send coded messages to certain groups of voters, failed in his attempt to elevate the Tories back into power but was appointed to run Mr Johnson's successful 2008 London mayoral election campaign.